Cheltenham: 50/1 Apolon De Charnie hands Mullins a record-equally win

Willie Mullins has joined Nicky Henderson as the most successful trainer of all-time in the JCB Triumph Hurdle when Apolon De Charnie (50-1) triumphed in the 2026 renewal, the opening race on Gold Cup Day. 

It was a seventh victory in the contest for the master of Closutton.

Partnered by the trainer’s son Patrick, the Edward Ware-owned gelding scored by a length and a half from Maestro Conti.

“I was able to shout, ‘Go on, my son!’," a delighted Willie Mullins said as his Cheltenham victories rise to 119.

"He came in late and had a very light prep, and we were hoping for the best. I didn’t give Patrick any instructions going out, I just said that we thought the start would be a circus. It was actually a very good start, thankfully. He had his own way of riding it, he just rode to his own instructions, so that was easy enough.

“Every time I looked at him on the TV, I could see him going well. He was going well all the time, while my other ones were meeting with trouble… Proactif was coming with a run, Mon Creuset was coming with a run, I thought, ‘We have chances here’, coming to the second last. But Patrick managed to get his head through."

On the attitude the horse showed when he hit the front, Mullins said: “I loved that. I said he was going to win before the last, then after the last he had to get down and win the race for a second time – you’d have to say he had to win for a second time. Once he got to that front and heard that Cheltenham roar, he still didn’t stop. 

"A lot of horses put their heads up when they hear that Cheltenham roar, but he didn’t, he did it very well, I was happy.” 

Winning jockey Patrick Mullins also spoke after the race in full commendation of Apolon De Charnie: “He was fantastic. He’s not very big, I don’t normally watch the juveniles at home, but he just caught my eye. I got a dream run everywhere.

“I’m very proud of my father. I’ve never seen him doubt himself as much as he has this winter. He keeps getting a lot of advice from people saying he’s doing this wrong or that wrong, but he sticks to his guns and he gets it right most of the time.” 

The win marks a tenth Cheltenham triumph for the jockey. 

Successful owner Edward Ware greeted the victory, saying: “Patrick said to me beforehand that he’d definitely be competitive and maybe in the first six, which we’d have been delighted with, obviously. To do that, though, is outstanding. I’m chuffed to pieces.

“My point of view was, Willie wouldn’t run the horse unless he thought he had some ability, therefore that’s great, isn’t it? Anything he does today is fantastic - I’m not going to say a bonus, because this is a huge race, obviously, but it’s just fantastic to be here and to have a winner is crazy.”